Proteins {plasmin} can break down blood-clot fibrins and can open clogged arteries. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) makes plasmin from plasminogen.
Blood has red-bone-marrow giant-cell fragments {platelet}|, which initiate blood clotting and last four days.
Organs {spleen}| can hold red blood cells. Spleen and liver can phagocytize red blood cells.
Blood fluid {plasma}| can be pale yellow and contain proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, salts, gases, lipids, and fatty acids. Plasma is 55% of blood.
proteins
Fibrinogen is for blood clotting. Albumin controls osmolarity and binds minerals. Alpha-globulin, beta-globulin, and gamma-globulin are antibodies.
Lipoprotein binds fat. Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) binds cholesterol and triglycerides. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binds cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) binds nothing.
Apolipoproteins mediate fat transfer to cell receptors. ApoB gene makes apolipoprotein-beta for binding cholesterol. ApoE gene makes apolipoprotein-epsilon for binding triglycerides. ApoA gene and ApoC gene make apolipoproteins. ApoE3 gene binds better than ApoE2 gene or ApoE4 gene, which associate with Alzheimer's disease.
Blood-plasma proteins {albumin, plasma}| can maintain osmotic pressure. Low albumin indicates liver disease or malnutrition.
Fats with polar ends and non-polar ends align in water solution, so non-polar ends are at center and polar ends are on spherical surfaces {micelle}|. Other molecules can be inside.
Plasma {serum}| with precipitated fibrinogen and other clotting factors has no clotting ability.
Disc-shaped cells {red blood cell}| {erythrocyte} contain hemoglobin and have no nucleus.
purpose
Hemoglobin transports oxygen and carbon dioxide.
metabolism
In capillaries, carbonic anhydrase converts carbon dioxide to carbonic acid, for hemoglobin transport. Lungs convert carbonic acid to carbon dioxide and breathe carbon dioxide from body.
amount
Blood-oxygen decrease increases red-blood-cell production. Spleen and liver phagocytize red blood cells. Diarrhea can cause polycythemia.
types
Fetuses have a different hemoglobin type. Sickle cell anemia has red blood cells with curved shapes.
Blood has red cells {corpuscle, cell}|.
Bone marrow has immature red blood cells {reticulocyte}|.
Pale cells {white blood cell}| {leukocyte} can have nuclei and move by amoeboid motion.
Spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes make leukocytes {lymphocyte}|. Lymphocytes are 25% to 30% of leukocytes.
Spleen and bone marrow make leukocytes {monocyte}|. Monocytes are 5% to 10% of leukocytes.
White blood cells {phagocyte}| can surround and absorb antigens or dead cells.
Red bone marrow makes leukocytes {basophil}, 0.5% of leukocytes.
Red bone marrow makes leukocytes {eosinophil}, 1% to 4% of leukocytes.
Red bone marrow makes leukocytes {neutrophil}, 60% to 70% of leukocytes.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225